Master Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies 2019/2020

Why is there armed conflict? How do we reach sustainable peace? Peace and Conflict Studies is a young research field addressing crucial issues in a troubled world. The Master Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies gives you a broad skill-set with specialised knowledge in conflict management and peacebuilding at both a national and global level.

Why this programme?

The Department of Peace and Conflict Research has established itself as a key producer of cutting-edge research and a provider of high-quality data on conflict. Upon completion of the Master Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies, you will have acquired a thorough understanding of advanced issues in peace and conflict research and will be able to critically examine, assess and analyse the origin, dynamics and resolution of armed conflicts on a scientific basis.

You will acquire knowledge and skills that provide you with the capacity to solve problems independently and the ability to monitor and critically evaluate the development of knowledge within peace and conflict research independently.

During the programme you can expect to:

learn how to critically examine, assess and analyse the origin, dynamics and resolution of armed conflicts on a scientific basis

engage with a vibrant research environment

obtain an individual skill profile by specialising in areas of interest to you

As a student at the department you will engage with a vibrant research environment and thrive among motivated high-performing fellow students. All classes are taught in English and you will be part of a diverse student body, with students coming from all corners of the world.

With a range of elective courses to choose from, you can create a more individual profile by specialising in areas such as emerging security threats, gender, war and peace, international interventions and protection of civilians or causes of peace. You will have the opportunity to undertake a semester long internship, where you can gain valuable practical experience.

You will be trained in numerous generic skills to gradually develop your methodological skills and your ability to critically evaluate cases of the onset, the dynamics and the resolution of armed conflicts using different social scientific approaches.

Student profileYou have been studying political science, international relations or global studies and as part of your education you have also taken some courses in Peace and Conflict Research. Working on your Bachelor's thesis or similar academic work gave you experience in analysing facts, apply methods learned and use statistics to interpret the data you collect. This means that you already have basic knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods.

A future PhD education is a possibility you might have thought about, but starting to work right after graduation is also something you are considering. You like to keep your options open for now and would value the possibility of applying your knowledge in an internship in Sweden or abroad during your education.

Degree

The programme leads to a Master of Social Science (120 credits) with Peace and Conflict Studies as the main field of study. After one year of study it may also be possible to obtain a Master of Social Science (60 credits).

Programme

The Master Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies begins with four courses for the whole class. For the second half of the second semester you choose two out of six elective courses. Three courses are offered in parallel in five-week blocks and programme students are guaranteed a place in one of the three courses.

In the third semester, you can choose to do an internship (whole or half semester) or study courses offered by the department. The elective courses offered in the second and third semesters may vary from year to year.

In the fourth semester you will write your Master's thesis.

Courses within the programme

Compulsory courses:

Causes of War, 15 credits

Methods I, 7.5 credits

Methods II, 7.5 credits or Methods II Advanced, 7.5 credits

Master's thesis, 15/30 credits

Elective courses (may vary):

International Conflict Resolution, 15 credits

War and Development, 7.5 credits

Social Psychological Foundations of Intergroup Conflict, 7.5 credits

Non-violent Conflicts: Causes, Strategies and Outcomes, 7.5 credits

Negotiating Global Challenges, 7.5 credits

Emerging Security Threats, 7.5 credits

Gender, War and Peace, 7.5 credits

Local Perspectives of Peacebuilding and State-building Interventions, 7.5 credits

International Interventions and Protection of Civilians, 7.5 credits

Causes of Peace, 7.5 credits

Advanced Quantitative Methods, 7.5 credits

Reviewing a Research Field, 7.5 credits

Internship in Peace and Conflict, 15/30 credits

Learning experience

At the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, the teaching staff goes to great lengths to anchor their teaching in research. In doing so, teaching is of the highest academic quality, while retaining its strong focus relevant and topical practice-related issues.

You are expected to take greater responsibility for your learning as the programme progresses, and to gradually acquire professionally relevant and research-based knowledge and skills. You are encouraged to create and develop both national and international contacts.

Courses are taught through a combination of lectures, extensive readings, seminar discussions, tutorials, and individual oral and written work. Throughout the programme considerable weight is placed on developing both written and oral presentations.

The progression of the Master Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies aims at leading to a higher degree of intellectual maturity and deepened insights into the complexities of the subject. This, together with the ability to integrate knowledge and skills and to formulate and solve problems, is evaluated in the Master's thesis.

The programme is offered in Uppsala and all instruction is in English.

Career

As a graduate of the Master Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies, you are well prepared for a professional career as analysts or researchers in the private and public sector, both nationally and internationally. You gain a broad competence in the field with special knowledge of how to moderate conflict and build peace and justice at national and global levels.

Alumni work at international organisations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, various national ministries and governmental agencies in Sweden and abroad, as well as in various national and international non-governmental organisations. Job titles include Associate Protection Officer at UNHCR in Colombia, Foreign Policy Officer at New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Information Analyst at United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

The programme also prepares you for research and teaching and is a qualification when you apply for doctoral studies in Peace and Conflict Studies or International Relations.

Our graduates are completing their PhD studies at, for example, Columbia University in New York, Oxford University in Oxford, Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, King's College in London, Euro­pean University Institute in Florence, and the University of Otago, New Zealand as well as various Swedish ­universities.

Career supportWhen you are about to finish your studies and want to start planning for your next step in life, you are welcome to UU Careers for support and guidance. You are also welcome to a variety of career activities and events all through your stay at Uppsala University. Of course, the services are free of charge. Learn more about UU career support.

90 credits in peace and conflict studies, or 90 credits in a related relevant discipline and 30 credits in peace and conflict studies or the equivalent; and

a summary, in English, of a Bachelor´s thesis or another independent academic work in peace and conflict studies or equivalent that your are the only author of (about 3000 words excluding references).

Language requirementsAll applicants need to verify English language proficiency that corresponds to English studies at upper secondary (high school) level in Sweden ("English 6"). This can be done in a number of ways, including through an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS, or through previous upper secondary (high school) or university studies.The minimum test scores are:

IELTS: an overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5

TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1–6) in written test and a total score of 575. Internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0–30) in written test and a total score of 90

the quality of previous university studies and relevance of previous studies. Special emphasis is placed on the summary of a Bachelor's thesis or another independent academic work in peace and conflict studies or equivalent (about 3,000 words excluding references).;

a statement of purpose; and

two letters of recommendation from teachers judging the academic skills of the applicant.

Fees:

If you are not a citizen of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country, or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees. Fees cover application and tuition only and do not cover accommodation, academic literature or the general cost of living. Read more about fees.